Board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A plurality of cylindrical playing pieces are provided for use with a game board having defined thereon one central position and a matrix of other positions disposed about the central position. Each position is defined by a round hole and a switch is disposed at the bottom of each the switch at the central position being normally open, the other switches being normally closed, and all switches being connected in series with a power source and signal devices.

United States Patent 1191 Shaw Mar. 18, 1975 BOARD GAME APPARATUS 1 2,017,501 10/1935 Howard 1. 273/133 Inventor: Milton C. Shaw Bronx N'YI 2,505,230 4/1950 Composto 273/157 R UX [73] Assignee: Lawrence Peska Associates, Inc., Primary ExaminerDelbert B. Lowe New York, NY. a part interest 1221 Filed: Aug. 28, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT A plurality of cylindrical playing pieces are provided I Appl' 501534 for use with a game board having defined thereon one central position and a matrix of other positions dis- [52] U.S. Cl. 273/133 posed about the central position. Each position is de- [51] Int. Cl. A63f 3/00 fined by a round hole and a switch is disposed at the [58] Field of Search 273/130, 132, 133, 153 bottom of each the switch at the central position being normally open, the other switches being normally [56] References Cited closed, and all switches being connected in series with UNITED STATES PATENTS a power source and signal devices.

689,783 12/1901 Boughner 273/133 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 BOARD GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention in one form a plurality of cylindrical playing pieces are provided together with a game board having defined thereon one central position and a matrix of'other positions disposed about the central position. Each position is defined by a round hole dimensioned for snug fitting engagement with each playing piece. At the bottom of each hole is disposed a switch which in the central position is normally open and in all other positions is normally closed. An electrical power source is provided together with a bell and wiring connecting each of the electrical apparatus in series so that when a peg is disposed in the central position and none are disposed in any of the other positions the bell will sound an audible signal.

In a preferred embodiment a light is also connected in series or parallel with the switches and the power source. The playing pieces may be provided with a shoulder to limit the travel into the holes in the game board,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which I regard as my invention, it is believed my invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the game board in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken through the line ll-Il of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view to an enlarged scale of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the interconnections between the electrical portions of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 there is shown a game board I0 which in the preferred embodiment is generally circular. Disposed thereon are a plurality of playing positions 12. Each position is circular in the embodiment shown although they may be rectangular or polygonal without departing from the invention. It may be desirable to use other shapes such as squares, rectangles, or other polygons. The holes 12 are identified by numbers 1 through 33, with the central point in the matrix of points being number 33. Disposed circumferencially about the game board 10 is a cover 14 and a base 16. The base 16 carries a battery 18. a light 20 and a bell 22. The hole 33 is provided with a normally open switch 24. Every other hole 12 in the matrix on the game board 10 is provided with a normally closed switch 26. The switch necessary for such apparatus may be very simple and one such preferred form of switch 26 is shown in FIG. 3 wherein an upright 28 is provided for engagement with a spring member 30. As is shown in that figure the playing piece 32 extends through a hole 12 to deflect switch piece 30 and cause the switch 26 to open. A shoulder 32A of the .piece 32 prevents excessive penetration which would tend to damage the switch 26. In a similar manner the switch 24 is dimensioned so that the shoulder allows positive seating of the electrical contact without damage to the switch itself.

The schematic diagram shown in FIG. 4 shows a relationship ofa plurality of switches 26 and a signal switch 24. It will be understood that 32 switches 26 of the normally closed type are provided in the preferred embodiment and that only two are shown in the schematic diagram for simplicity. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the arrangement between the light and the bell are not essential to the invention and that the two may be connected in the series without departing from the invention.

It will be understood that the object of the game is to remove all of the pieces from the board except one that is disposed in the central position identified by the numeral 33. In removing pieces the rules of the game require that pieces be removed by jumping adjacent aligned positions.

Having herein described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A plurality of generally cylindrical playing pieces, a game board having defined thereon one central position, a matrix of other positions disposed about said central position, each position being defined by round hole dimension for snug fitting engagement with each of said playing pieces, each position having a switch disposed therein, said switch. in said central position being normally open and all other switches being normally closed, an electrical power source, a bell, and Wiring connecting all of said switches, the electrical power source and said bell in series.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 further including a light connected so as to be illuminated when the said bell is energized.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein each of said playing pieces is provided with a shoulder dimensioned to limit the penetration of said playing pieces into said holes. 

1. A plurality of generally cylindrical playing pieces, a game board having defined thereon one central position, a matrix of other positions disposed about said central position, each position being defined by round hole dimension for snug fitting engagement with each of said playing pieces, each position having a switch disposed therein, said switch in said central position being normally open and all other switches being normally closed, an electrical power source, a bell, and wiring connecting all of said switches, the electrical power source and said bell in series.
 2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 further including a light connected so as to be illuminated when the said bell is energized.
 3. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein each of said playing pieces is provided with a shoulder dimensioned to limit the penetration of said playing pieces into said holes. 